On January 6, 2016, HB 1143 was introduced in the Florida House of Representatives. The bill sought to include the use of a nicotine dispensing device within the definition of “smoking” under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, and proposed to take effect July 1, 2016.

On July 1, 2014, SB 654 and HB 685 became official and amended the Florida Statutes regarding business entities. The new law not only reorganizes Chapter 607 of the Florida Statutes, but creates two new types of corporate entities in Florida: Social Purpose Corporations and Benefit Corporations. These two new types of corporations will be subject to the statutory regulations of corporations traditionally found in Chapter 607 with a few specific variations.

Most businesses understanding that independent contractor’s receive 1099’s and employee’s receive W-2s, but there are many misunderstanding about who actually qualifies as an independent contractor. The wrong classification can have serious legal ramifications, and could leave the employer vulnerable to liability for: failure to withhold and pay payroll taxes; failure to pay employee benefits; hourly wage violations; discrimination suits and more. The classification is also associated with your rights to intellectual property, involving elevated risks where in certain situations you are licensing the use of your trademark without conditions.

If you have not been sued by an insurance company, you likely are unaware of insurance companies’ right of subrogation. The right of subrogation, granted to insurance companies by the Florida Legislature, creates the possibility of exceedingly long term liability for companies with uninsured or underinsured vehicles that our businesses rely on.